July 25, 1922 



flARDWOOD RECORD 



23 



For Lumber Salesmen — 



The New Hardwood Rate Book 



More than 20,000 rates — correct and up to the minute — 

 are contained in our new pocket-size hardw^ood rate book, 

 just off the press. It covers the entire field, giving the 

 July 1 st rates from all principal hardw^ood producing 

 points in Eastern, Southern and Southwestern territories, 

 as vv^ell as Ohio and Indiana, to important consuming 

 points in the United States. 



Only Experts can correctly interpret railroad tariffs as 

 they exist today. Here at a glance your salesmen can 

 learn your competitors' rates, as w^ell as your ow^n, to all 

 important markets. Every manufacturer, w^holesaler and 

 salesman needs one. 



Send check today. Only $5.00 per copy (while the supply lasts) to non-members 



Southern Hardwood Traffic Association 



Bank of Commerce Building, Memphis 



that then there can be no misconception as to where we stand on this 

 mattei'. (Applause.) 



Public's Interest Paramount — Dulweber 



Mr. B. F. Dulweber (Hardwood Mfrs. Institute, Greenwood, Miss.): 

 Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen, I would like to refer to one statement 

 that was made here earlier in the morning relative to the public interest 

 in the matter of hardwood grading and specifications. In the last analysis 

 to my mind, it is the public which is most vitally cnocerned in this 

 question, because ultimately the public pays the bills. It is true that 

 the man who buys a chair or a table, or a coffin, that very few have any 

 knowledge of the cost per foot of the amount of lumber in that piece, 

 nor has he any knowledge of the waste that enters into it. but he pays 

 for the waste, gentlemen, just the same, and therefore he is very vitally 

 concerned. I hope, therefore, that if it were possible to so draft specifi- 

 cations as to reduce that waste, we may be able to do so and thereby 

 perform a great public service. 



Now, relative to this hardwood report, gentlemen ; that report is not 

 upsetting anything that exists today. It merely recommends that a 

 thorough investigation be made: a careful engineering study of the situa- 

 tion be made to determine if we cannot better serve the public. That is 

 all there is to it, gentlemen. (Applause.) I thank you. 



Mr. Putnam : Mr. Chairman ; I sat. some time ago in an Interstate 

 Commerce Commission hearing on transit cars. Our representatives were, 

 at times at daggers' points and we tried to keep them together for a few 

 (lays in that condition, but every time that they tried to spill over and 

 raise the devil, the examiner took a recess. I move that we have a recess 

 until 1 o'clock. 



The Chairman : The chairman is of the opinion that the motion to 

 recess is itself out of order, unless the mover of the original motion. Mr, 

 Young, is willing to withdraw his motion for that purpose. The Chair 

 will ask Mr. Young whether he desires to withdraw his motion for that 

 purpose. 



Young Insists on His Motion 



Mr. Toung : No. 



CThe question was called for.) 



The Chairman : Mr. Young does not desire to withdraw his motion. 

 The Chair's understanding is that in the absence of agreement a motion 

 to recesss, unlike a motion to ad.iourn. does not take precedence over pend- 

 ing business. Mr. Young's motion therefore is still before you. Is there 

 further comment? 



Mr. Flail : Mr. Chairman, I rise to a point of information. How is 

 this conference constituted as to membership? The statement has been 

 made here in the course of the debate, that you haven't anything to say 

 about this, referring, as I understand it, to retail dealers. Is this con- 

 ference made up of retail dealers exclusively? 



Make-Up of Conference Explained 



The Chairman : No. Mr. Hall. If you are addressing that question 

 to the Chairman, he has here a list of those associations to which invi- 

 tations were sent. This list is supposed to comprise all national, regional 

 and state assocaitions, with a few larger city or local associations of 

 lumber dealers, the national, regional and state associations representing 

 the producers, distributors and consumers of the lumber product. That 

 includes lumber manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and wood users of 

 all descriptions; users of product of the sawmills of all descriptions; it 



does not include the paper or pulp manufacturers — obviously they are 

 not concerned in this problem ; contractors, engineers, architects and 

 other professions closely related thereto, also. It is, in a general way, 

 representative of the same group of interests that were invited by Secre- 

 tary Hoover, to be present at the conference in Washington in May. This 

 list is the one to which the confirmatory invitations to this conference 

 were sent by the Department of Commerce in behalf of the Secretary of 

 Commerce. I assume that all organizations here today have received such 

 a letter as that sent within the last ten days or two weeks by the 

 Secretary of Commerce. The Chair assumes that those who are here 

 acting are representatives of these various associations. 



Inquires as to Method of Taking Vote 



Mr. Bell : May I inquire, before voting on this or any other motion, 

 whether it will be by the associations invited to attend? It occurs 

 to me that if there are many representatives of some associations and 

 a few representatives of other associations and possibly some who are 

 not representatives of any associations, that the recording of the judg- 

 ment of this body by a viva voce vote would not be accurate and not 

 the proper way to do it. I just arise to inquire how the voting will be 

 in that regard. I would like also to inquire if the Chair will not take 

 some means to ascertain who are the authorized representatives of those 

 organizations that have been invited to participate in this conference. 

 It occurs to me also that any proposition presented to this body that 

 is not presented by some authorized representative of such a bo<ly is not 

 properly before the Body for consideration. 



The Meaning of the Vote 



(The Chair responded to Mr. Bell's question with a detailed explanation 

 of the nature and obligations of the conference, concluding with the 

 Chair's opinion of the effect of the vote upon the subsequent delibera- 

 tions of the conference and the general standardization program. The 

 conclusion of this explanation was : 



Chairman : The effect of this motion, therefore, if passed, would be, 

 so far as the voice of this conference is concerned, to remove hardwoods 

 from further consideration in the general standardization program. A 

 contrary vote upon this motion would in the Chair's understanding, mean 

 that this group was jn favor of leaving the way open for the further con- 

 sideration of a broad and inclusive lumber program, including all lumber, 

 both softwood and hardwood. 



It is not the Chair's understanding that this conference is here with 

 final authority to bind the trade with respect to any phase of this prob- 

 lem and that its action upon this motion, and upon any other motion, is 

 a valuable registration of opinion and not a final adoption or rejection 

 binding upon the lumber trade. The Chairman may perhaps be excused 

 for having stated his understanding of the meaning of your vote, whatever 

 it may be on this motion. If his statement is challenged by any repre- 

 sentative present, the Ch.air will entertain a motion to settle such ques- 

 tion in that regard as may be raised. In anticipation of vote on the 

 merits of this subject, you ought to understand what situation your vote 

 would lead to. Is there further discussion? 



(The question was called for.) 



The Chair does not wish to close down the discussion on anyone who 

 desires to be heard. 



Mr, Bell : I do not gather from your remarks as to how the vote will 



